Having thought about writing my congressional representatives lately I realized that few of us really even know where to send the mail. When I went to look it up I discovered an amazing amount of (unintentional, I think) misdirection and confusion. It was so confusing, in fact, that I thought it might be useful to build a list for others.
Also, in researching this I came a across a few tips for writing your congressman. Here’s a quick summary:
- Keep it to one page. These folks get a ton of mail and aren’t likely to read or pay attention to anything more than that.
- Be brief. Include two paragraphs.
- In the first paragraph, state who you are, what you’re concerned about and what you think should be done (or not done) about it. Don’t include long arguments or detailed discussion here. That’s what the second paragraph is for.
- In the second paragraphs provide any arguments or reasoning for your position.
- After the second paragraph include your mailing address. This is IMPORTANT. If a representative can’t tell that the letter is from someone in their district they will, in most cases, completely ignore your letter. Add your mailing address or your home address if they’re different. They want to know that you’re in the right district.
- Again, be as brief and detailed as possible and don’t use profanity. Though, I agree, many of them deserve it doing so will just get your letter immediately discarded.
- In summary: Be polite, be brief but detailed and include your contact information.
Here are the addresses for the NC representatives and a link to figure out your NC district (if you find errors here please let me know at jinksto@gmail.com and I’ll do what I can to correct them):
Senators
The Honorable Richard Burr
United States Senate
217 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-3301
The Honorable Kay Hagan
United States Senate
DB-40A Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-3306
Representatives
Not sure which district you’re in? Check here!
District 1
The Honorable G. K. Butterfield, Jr.
United States House of Representatives
413 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3301
District 2
The Honorable Bobby Etheridge
United States House of Representatives
1533 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3302
District 3
The Honorable Walter B. Jones, Jr.
United States House of Representatives
2333 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3303
District 4
The Honorable David E. Price
United States House of Representatives
2162 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3304
District 5
The Honorable Virginia Foxx
United States House of Representatives
1230 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3305
District 6
The Honorable Howard Coble
United States House of Representatives
2468 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3306
District 7
The Honorable Mike McIntyre
United States House of Representatives
2437 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3307
District 8
The Honorable Larry Kissell
United States House of Representatives
512 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3308
District 9
The Honorable Sue Myrick
United States House of Representatives
230 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3309
District 10
The Honorable Patrick McHenry
United States House of Representatives
224 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3310
District 11
The Honorable Heath Shuler
United States House of Representatives
422 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3311
District 12
The Honorable Melvin L. Watt
United States House of Representatives
2304 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3312
District 13
The Honorable Brad Miller
United States House of Representatives
1127 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3313